For the first time this season after playing 73 of an 82-game season, the VGK took the ice in Vancouver with their playoff destiny in their own hands. That had not been the case prior, as they trailed the L.A. Kings and had played more games. But with their win against Arizona Saturday at T-Mobile and L.A. losing to Minnesota on Sunday, the VGK trailed L.A. by only 2 points with a game in hand and owned the tiebreaker with more regulation wins.
With a win against Vancouver last night, Vegas could have matched the Kings’ record for the remainder of the season and they would automatically qualify for the playoffs as at least the 3rd place team in the Pacific Division, maybe even 2nd place if Edmonton stumbled in their last 8 games.
But the team that DeBoer claims has no quit had no urgency whatsoever in the first 40 minutes of last night’s 5-4 overtime loss. Their power play is dreadful, but that’s old news; they went 0-15 in their last 6 games and last night they went 0-3, which makes them 0-18.
Now, you can run into hot goaltending. We all know this. But would you like to know how many shots the VGK have actually gotten on net in these 18 power plays? They have only gotten 16 shots on net in 18 power-plays. That’s atrocious and I’m being kind.
You can no longer blame Steve Spott; he’s no longer coaching the power play. It’s now just a franchise SNAFU at best. To add to the problem, the VGK penalty kill which for the first 4 seasons has been really good, has given up 5 PPG in 9 Vancouver power-play chances over their last 3 games.
Vancouver won 2 of these games and lost one in overtime for 5 points out of 6. That’s a lot of points left on the ice. Granted, picking up 1-point last night by getting the game into overtime on Shea Theodore’s goal with Lehner on the bench for the extra skater with just 42 seconds left in regulation was crucial, but this is a game they should have won. They’re clearly better than the Canucks. Or are they? Or does Vancouver, with a very margin for making the playoffs, have more urgency in their game? If there is a team that has no quit and urgency, look no further than Vancouver.
Now to the next concern that is really troublesome and that’s goaltending. Robin Lehner looks totally lost or at best uncomfortable in the net. Is he fully recovered from his injury? He looks slow to react on shots. He seems to wind up face first on the ice more than he should and then has trouble getting back up on his skates. On the game-winning goal 51 seconds into overtime, he flopped to the ice on his belly and was completely out of position to stop the backhander Quinn Hughes easily lifted over his prone body. I would be remiss if I didn’t add that right before Hughes lifted the puck over Lehner, he cross-checked Jake Eichel in the back as the puck was at Eichel’s skates, knocking Eichel to the ice behind the net. Hughes scooped up the loose puck and slid left to right in front of Lehner, who by this time was prone on the ice and helpless. Lehner also gave up a goal on the first shot of the game, which has happened twice this season. Vancouver scored 3 goals on 11 shots and 4 goals on 16 shots.
Vegas did show some urgency in the 3rd period, but you just cannot play just 20 minutes and expect to beat a team also playing for their playoff lives.
Vegas also found a way to get Mark Stone back into the lineup after missing the last 26 games — by moving Brossoit, Carrier, and Patrick to long-term injury reserve retroactively back to the dates of their injury. The three have a combined salary of $4.925 million and when you combine that with Reilly Smith’s $5 million contract, the total $9.925 million allowed Stone’s $9.5-million-dollar contract to fit under the salary cap of $81.5 million.
This LTIR move is totally within the rules, even though fans from other teams think the VGK are playing salary cap games. Any player put on LTIR must miss at least 10 games and at least 24 days. Last night’s lineup will be the one you’ll most likely see for the rest of the season, barring any future injuries. Stone, Pacioretty, and Lehner may not be 100%, but they’ll be playing these last 8 games and hopefully beyond. If they make the playoffs, the salary cap goes away and the players currently on LTIR can return when they’re healthy.
There’s a slight possibility that DeBoer may roll the dice and give Logan Thompson a chance in one of the 2 games left on this road trip. LT has proven reliable and Lehner has looked slow and out of sync. I say slight, because the last thing the VGK organization wants to admit is that they may have moved the wrong goaltender in the off season.
Other game Notes and Quotes
“Proud of the way the guys battled back,” Martinez said. “Getting points this time of year is big, but that said, we’re shooting for two, not one.”
“There’s no quit in this team. There hasn’t been all year and it was an important point,” coach Peter DeBoer said. “We’ll take the point. I think we’re going to have to be better than that down the stretch in order to get where we want to go.”
Stone said it will take time to find his legs and his game after being out since Feb. 8. “Not sure anything came back quick in that one,” Stone said. “Can’t say I felt very good. Lungs really weren’t there. I just tried to do what I could to try and help the team.” Stone was minus 1 with three shots on goal and had 17:17 of ice time.
Vegas had the first 11 shots and outshot Vancouver 17-5 in the third period. Theodore made it 4-3 at 5:27 with a far-side wrist shot from the right face-off dot.
Jack Eichel had one assist to extend his point streak to five games (four goals, two assists).
Bonehead play of the game goes to Keegan Kolesar, who instead of getting the puck in deep, attempted a backwards pass towards the blue line to Pietrangelo who had 2 Vancouver players between him and Kolesar. It resulted in a 2-on-1 with only Hutton back. Hutton failed to get his stick on the ice to prevent the cross-ice pass and Lehner was totally committed to the shooter as he was supposed to be, resulting in an easy Vancouver goal.
My 3 Stars of the Game: Shea Theodore (2G in the 3rd period to wipe out a 2-goal deficit, plus 8 SOG and +2), Alec Martinez (1G, 1A, and 4 SOG), Evgenii Dadonov (1A, but created a lot of offensive opportunities)
Next game is tomorrow at Calgary at 6 p.m. Pacific Time
Theodore’s goal that sent it to overtime
Hughes goal that cost the VGK a valuable point
Your comments and opinions are welcome here at Las Vegas Advisor or you may contact me directly at [email protected] or on my Facebook page or the Facebook page of Vegas Hockey Guy or on Twitter @TheRealJoePane
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Great article. You are one of the few journalist who are “ allowed” to criticize Lerner.
I feel that besides the injuries, Lerner is the main reason this season is so up and down. He is awkward in the net, slow and looks disoriented at times. But, GM needs his job too, so cover up continues.
Jack
When you say “allowed” are you suggesting that other journalist are not allowed or are afraid to criticize his performances?
Joe P.
Robert Franco sent this comment in
DeBoer starting Lehner, when Thompson kept us in the race, is a fireable offense. He needs to go and take his pet project with him. They had 3 goals on 11 shots and 4 on 20. 25% on 5 on 5 is better than some power plays especially ours.
Dave Campoverde responded to Robert Franco
Robert Franco
DeBoer pulled his goalies in San Jose with 3 goals on them in less than 2 periods. So why he changing his philosophy in Vegas? Lehner could not find the puck. Come on don’t let the season slip away like that.
Steve Onorato sent this pointed opinion in.
DeBoer is a fucking idiot
Steve
Tell us how you really feel don’t hold back
Joe P.
Steve Onorato responded to me telling him to tell us how he really feels.
Joe Pane I am just so annoyed at this team right now, if they think Lehner is the answer then they are mistaken. The boys score 4 goals for that idiot, and he loses the game for them. On numerous occasions he blames the team, not him, for the loss. Just get rid of that virus and give Thompson a chance, at least he has agility
Steve Onorato you are not the only one, my phone blows up during games when Lehner is having a bad night. I have this one reader by the name of Joey T. who send me pictures of a burning dumpster rolling down the streets.
Joe P.
John Edmond responded to Steve’s comments
Steve yeah, Thompson did so great against Columbus and Winnipeg. But I bet you blamed the team for those loses.
Steve Onorato responded
Joe Pane, I talked with the VGK president and told him he will never see a cup with loser Lehner, his response, we’ll see. What kind of BS is that, we’ll see, this organization is so screwed up right now it’s pathetic. You have not heard a thing from McPhee, he just puts asshole McCrimmon out there, that’s another one who should hit the happy highway.
John Edmond added some game results to question Logan Thompson’s ability
Then again, his games against such powerhouses of the Kraken, and even let the top seeded Blackhawks score 4 on him. Oh wait, Chicago is a dumpster fire.
Then again this is what I expect from a fan base that can get over a trade of a player that isn’t good this year.
March 21st, 0-3 loss to the wild Thompson in net.
March 22nd, 0-4 loss to the Jets, Thompson in net
Let me guess (those are a Lehner’s fault too, right?
Steve Onorato added more to the conversation about the VGK goaltending
How much does Thompson make and how much does Lehner make, he hadn’t played an NHL game before this year, give me a break
Steve
Logan Thompson makes 800,000, Robin Lehner makes 5 million and believes his is underpaid.
Joe P.
John Edmond stated this
Steve pretty sure Thompson played in a game last year.
John Edmond, He played in 1 game in relief last year made 2 saves in 8:15 gave up no goals.
Joe P.
John Edmond sent this in regarding Robin Lehner
Joe you really took his comment like that. He was making the comparison that a couple other goalies who signed at the same time as him got paid more. Even though he was already a Jennings winner, and a Vezina finalist and those goalies weren’t. He was making the point that GMs were using his mental health issues as an excuse to not pay him. Even though he was one of the best goalies in the league. You know, when fleury blew a 3-1 series lead to the Sharks, he was taking the Islanders to the 3rd round.
But hey, haters goanna hate.
John
I do not hate Robin Lehner I actually feel bad for him because of a good portion of the VGK fan base that seems like they will never accept him. I just report and offer my hockey opinions based upon my observations. And last night Robin looked lost.
Joe P.
Joey Totaro had this response to John Edwards defense of Robin Lehner
John Edmond even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then…
John Edmond calling me out for shitting on Lehner
Joe yet in all of what you wrote, not a single mention of defensive breakdowns. No mention of Hutton offering zero help on a 2-1 from a turnover at the blue line. No mention of Whitecloud not once but twice allowing Canucks between him and the goal.
By not mentioning that and spending an entire paragraph shitting on Lehner you opinion is clear. I mention that Lehner saved 3 high ranger chances from turn overs in the last 5 minutes of the third because the defense once again found ways turn the puck over.
So don’t try to act objective and outright skip over any detail that would make you objective.
John Edmond
I guess you forgot to read this before you called me out
Bonehead play of the game goes to Keegan Kolesar, who instead of getting the puck in deep, attempted a backwards pass towards the blue line to Pietrangelo who had 2 Vancouver players between him and Kolesar. It resulted in a 2-on-1 with only Hutton back. Hutton failed to get his stick on the ice to prevent the cross-ice pass and Lehner was totally committed to the shooter as he was supposed to be, resulting in an easy Vancouver goal.
Slow down and read it all before you call me out
Joe P.
Christopher Couch had this to say
Lehner has been terrible. There is no reason he should be in net every game.
Christopher Couch I have to agree with you. DeBoer has always claimed he plays the player that gives the team the best chance to win. He did that in the Edmonton bubble with Fleury/Lehner.
Joe P.
Good article,Joe thanks ! I did get to watch this one ( Sportsnet-🇨🇦 Team) & couldn’t get over how disorganized they seemed to be. Still will keep fingers crossed the rest of this trip!!🧡🇨🇦🤞🏾🤞🏾#🖤🥇#goKnightsgo #
It amazes me that Lehner, not Lerner, gets all the blame. He hasn’t been great but that defense has been horrible in front of him. And as great as Theodore is offensively, he is that bad defensively. The next time he takes a hit to gain the puck will be the first. Softest Defenseman in league. And his half ass attempt at stopping Hughes in OT was vintage 27. Hutton Has made several boneheaded plays and Whitecloud can’t cover anyone in front of the net. Seems like most of the goals Lehner gives up are loose pucks in front of the net.
Lehner, not Lerner, may not win us a cup, but our defense will lose us a chance at the playoffs.
And our coach is really really good.
Paul, I think we all knew who Jack was talking about even if he spelt his name wrong. I would be lost without spell check, just saying.’
Joe P.
Douglas Carle had this comment about the team
0-18 on the power play. Power play totally nonexistent last year as well. What more has to be said? Could quite literally have the famous trunk monkey walk behind the bench and tap five random NHL players on the shoulder and tell them to jump over the boards and just play a regular shift against the man short squad and they would score at least one goal out of 18 tries (16 shots in 18 power plays – actually turns a person’s stomach) .
Apparently this type of production is good enough to take the job of a highly successful coach and maintain it for 2 1/2 years with zero results. Just wow!
Douglas Carle it is baffling.
Joe P.
Scottie Maiello sent this comment in
Go knights go you can do this
Drew Thrasher responded to my question about urgency
Sure, didn’t look like it
Drew Thrasher no it didn’t. Vancouver did and that was clear as the South Pacific Ocean.
Joe P.
Joey Totaro wrote this
C’MON… Everyone knows already if we miss the playoffs, it’s PANDAS FAULT 🐼… 🤌🏻🤌🏻
Special teams decided this game…Vancouver was 2 for 3 on the PP and Vegas was OH for 3..And about that OT goal..The NHL is cracking down on crosschecks this year..Why wasnt that a crosscheck on Eichel? Eichel would have cleared that puck if he wasn’t crosschecked..He outweighs Hughes by 33 lbs…And the Ref was on the goal line at the time..How did he miss it?..The defensive play of the team is horrible..Out of 27 shots the Canucks had 14 of them were high danger scoring chances per Natural Stat Trick..That’s unacceptable..
Dave Campoverde responded to Robert Franco
Robert Franco
DeBoer pulled his goalies in San Jose with 3 goals on them in less than 2 periods. So why he changing his philosophy in Vegas? Lehner could not find the puck. Come on don’t let the season slip away like that.
Robert Franco responded to Dave’s comments
I’m going to say one more loss and we can start thinking about 2022/23. Teams ahead of us just aren’t losing. It’s going to take 98 to 99 to get in. We have to go 7-1. Not possible if we pledge allegiance to Lehner. Just saying!
Kristi Scott Smith sent this opinion in.
I have always questioned their urgency this season…In a lot of games they seem to start playing harder in the third
Kristi
That’s a recipe for a disaster you need to play 60 minutes.
Joe P.
Charlie Anzalone wrote this
Lehner had no lateral movement and no help at the net
Drew Thrasher had this comment and opinion
Man, I didn’t realize the pp was that bad, there is no way it should be 0-15 with the offense we have. They need to get a coach in here who can figure it out
Darrell Velicer responding to Drew
Drew Thrasher u are too busy thrashing Lehner to notice
Drew Thrasher responded
Darrell Velicer blue line isn’t helping him out
Mark Durant had this opinion
Desperation is a better word. Activating Stone — who is clearly not 100% healthy — is a good indicator of that.
Mark Durant very true but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Joe P.
Judy Schneider sent this in
Definitely!!🏒🥅🧡🖤🇨🇦🤞🏾🥇#goKnightsgo #
Lyn Crowl Schrader wrote this
When Stone first came to us, I remember him saying that he hated losses, or opponents’ goals, that occurred when he was on the ice. That sense of duty seems to elude him this season. Granted, he has health issues, but it’s an ethos. When the mantra to “grab their nuts” was issued, the boys found a spark.
Marchy, Bill, Stephenson, Whitecloud, Nabber, Martinez and Eichel are fighting for it. Petro is consistent. But there doesn’t seem to be a spark. Having a good 10 minutes doesn’t make up for a lackluster, and predictable, 50 minutes.
Time to yell FIRE 🔥 and start smokin’ other teams.
Barbara Gross wrote this
Have to put Logan back in net as our goalie, I agree with what most people are saying, have to score on power plays also.😢😢❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻
When a team knows they must score 4 to 5 goals most all games to win when Lehner is in the net it just plain puts to much pressure on them.
Larry Butler sent this comment in.
Joe, Keep up the frank and honest reporting. Spot on.
Larry Loik has this opinion
Overpaid with no motivation… Biggest mistake getting rid of Flower and Gallant
Linda Ganz
3 goal Lehner is just so bad. I can’t for the life of me figure out why the coach did not pull him in 2nd period. I feel like our team could have won last nite but they were chasing again bc Lehner can’t track pucks our get up on his skates or get up at all. I am sorry but i can’t make excuses for #90 when he cant do his job.
Bryan Sandrock sent his opinion and comments in
Seems to me that the question should be all about which players are net positive and which players are net neutral and which players are net negatives… Did Mark stone add value yesterday ‘s? Did Robin Lehner add value yesterday?  I’m willing to give Mark stone the benefit of the doubt but Robin Lehner has earned my Angst. I believed DeBoer should tell him if a second goal is scored on you, I will replace you immediately. Yes, he made some good saves yesterday but that was only after he put us all behind by admiring his saves and not getting in the proper position immediately thereafter this allowing several of the goals to go in pretty much uncontested on the second shot. And the power players in total disgrace… It was the reason that we could not win the Stanley Cup last year and it is the reason that we will not win the Stanley Cup this year. Maybe we just need to concede to season and get our shit together for next year, but I want them to do well, and I hope that they make the right decisions to improve their game
John Edmond responded to Bryan
Bryan it’s takes like this that prove Vegas is the joke of the NHL fan world.
Bryan Sandrock responding to John
John Edmond ahhh, but Vegas isn’t the joke of the NFL (that I know of anyways) … so there’s always that. Thanks for your attempts to make sense of it all though! 😉
John Edmond, I guess you not acknowledging that I in fact did mention leaving Lehner out to dry on the 2 on 1 slipped your mind. I don’t mind being chastised but at least be accurate when you attempt to call me out and not be bogus about it So who is the JOKE now.
John Edmond
Joe, I gave up on reading your synopsis when you changed away from talking about the play. Didn’t realize you hid it towards the bottom.
But if you are a professional writer, you already know that you Ree forced the idea that Lehner is bad and waited to the end to take away any of the blame from the goals. You should know that psychologically you have already set the tone of your whole post in the first few paragraphs.
But yeah, you did mention it at the bottom.
John the entire team played bad in the first 40 minutes including Lehner. I call it as I see it. I didn’t hide anything at the bottom of the article, it speaks for itself and if you are going to make a point about something and say I didn’t mention it you are wrong. Who are you to decide where exactly my opinions appear in the article? Does it matter if it’s in the middle or towards the end its a flowing opinion of what I observed last night.
Also are you claiming the Lehner played well last night and didn’t look out of sync and uncomfortable last night? See unlike you who just assumes what I’m thinking I’m professional enough to ask you to clarify your position.
Joe P.
John Edmond responded to my question to him about Lehner’s mindset last night
Joe he clearly was frazzled after the first goal happening so early in the game. The defense did him zero favors until the 3rd and he bailed them out on more bad passing and broken coverage at the end of the 3rd. Then in overtime he blew it and to me, it looks like he changes his mind on a poke check to going for a puck freeze which is why he flopped on the ice.
John Edmond fair enough I just wanted to make sure that you didn’t think he played well the entire game because not on Lehner, but the entire team left a lot to be desired last night.
Joe P.
Yup. The pink hats can’t get over the loss of the Flower man. The guy who actually prevented us from winning the cup for three years. 29 is not walking through the door. Our fans true colors have shined brightly this year.
Look at how many so called hockey fans blame Deboer for keeping Lehner and trading the Flower man. It only takes an IQ of 45 to know the team GM and President make that decision.
What game were you watching? The first goal was a one-timer. Great passing. No rebound. There was a goal on a 2 on 1 break and it was also a one timer. He had one bad goal when he lost the puck at his feet. And even that one was kicked in by his own teammate. The OT was a rebound on a close in shot but there will always be one on that play. If you’re gonna criticize him, at least get it right.
Marie Archuletta-Nabit sent this in
To start off with they need to get rid of Lehner at least they have would have a chance as long as he’s in goal they will be chasing the win, they need at least a 10-goal lead when Lehner is in net to secure a win, he horrible, when is McCrimmon and McPhee going to step in and make the call time to go panda!!😩 sadly nobody else wants him! 
Richard Santomauro sent this breakdown on stats in.
Let’s first break down the game stats.
RELYING ON THE DEFENSE TO SCORE. The first thing that jumps out is the fact that the defense once again had to step up on the offensive side of the stat sheet. (Martinez 1G/1A, Theodore 2G). The premise for bringing Eichel to Vegas was that the Defense would be able to focus more on defense. The other goal during regulation came from Amadio (1G).
EICHEL 1A (+/- 0)
JANMARK 1A (+/- 0)
KOLESAR 1A (+/- 0)
DADANOV 1A (+1)
KARLSSON 1A (+3)
MARCHESSAULT 1A (+2)
STONE 0/0 (-1)
PACIORETTY 0/0 (-2)
ROY 0/0
STEPHENSON 0/0
VGK 1st GOAL, 4th LINE Martinez(1), Janmark(13), Kolesar(16)
VGK 2nd GOAL, MISFIT LINE Amadio(9), Marchy(32), Karlsson (18)
VGK 3rd GOAL, Theodore(12), Dadanov(19), Martinez(5)
VGK 4th GOAL, Theodore(13), Pietrangelo(28), Eichel(9)
The stats don’t lie. The Stone, Stephenson, Patches line sucked last night – big time. But the real story of this game was the Canuck power play (2 of 3) and the VGK continued PP ineptitude (0/3). The power play continues to be an embarrassment.
GOALTENDING. I hate to admit this, but Panda actually played a decent game. Sure, he might have saved one of those goals but he also made quite a few amazing ones. I still think he needs to keep his feet, which is a major weakness. (I had to get in at least 1 dig, right?). Sure, an .817 save percentage sucks, but place an asterisk on that goalie stat. Poor defense and a disappointing (to say the least) effort by the Stone, Patches, Stephenson line is to blame.
STARS OF THE GAME. Elias Pettersson continues to be a thorn at the most inopportune time. He has single handedly (nearly) destroyed the VGK chances to reach the postseason. On the VGK side, I hand out stars to Martinez, Theodore, and the MISFIT Line. The OT goal wasn’t on Lehner either. He played extremely well despite the save percentage. I give him half a star for this game actually.
PLAYOFF OUTLOOK. *****BLEAK***** The Golden Knights picked up a point on Edmonton, but lost ground against the Kings, Stars, and Predators while the Canucks continue their amazing run and hopes of getting in. Face it, this was a must win game (2 points not 1) with the Flames and Oilers up next. The VGK has 8 remaining games and in my opinion can only afford to lose 1 of those 8 if they are going to get in. The OT loss to the Canucks only further amplifies the importance of Thursday’s contest against the Flames. I was pretty high on the hopes that Stone’s return was going to be the catalyst to a long winning streak beginning with a total dominating performance against the Canucks. That didn’t happen, which makes me wonder just how healthy both Stone and Pacioretty are. They looked awful for most of the game and the stats show that.
Mark Durant responded to Richard
Richard Santomauro Here’s my issue: they paid Lehner to be the No. 1, and they’re treating him as such. But 22 saves on 27 shots is simply not acceptable no matter what the circumstances were, especially at this time of the season. This team needs excellent goaltending and defense, and they’re not getting either. Their special teams have been awful. Whitecloud was not good last night … Hutton was awful. Why they extended him is a complete mystery. He’s Holden 2.0, only worse. Plus, you shouldn’t have to rely on defense to produce this much offense.
Jacqueline Claire wrote this
DeBoer, may they say, “the team has no quit,” but oftentimes this year it seems as though they have no start until the 3rd period. Hard to win games and clinch a playoff berth with that game play. 🤷♀️
One thing no one picked up on , well maybe they did but wanted to concentrate on Lehner, Zack Whitecloud
was -3 through the first two periods. He just did not have a very good game. It was below the standard that
he was playing by all year. But I will chalk that up to just have a bad day. The other thing that concerns me
was the obvious crosscheck on Eichel to push him out of the way in order for Hughes to get the puck and
score. Has the officiating gone to the old NBA edict of don’t call a foul in the last 10 seconds unless there
has been a murder? For 5 years now I’ve watched and someone told me they never call a penalty in OT.
Well that was too egregious of a foul to pass on. Just my $.02 worth.
Jon Hardesty added this after the game against NJ on Monday 4/18/2022
Sure, quit last night, NJ sucks!!
Jon Hardesty they sure did
Joe P.